Sharp fall in mercury registered in north-west region

Chandigarh, May 5 (UNI) The mercury sharply fell in most parts of the northwest India today following light rain at isolated places, providing respite to people from schorching heat wave.

Except Amritsar, where the heat wave continued unrelentingly, the maximum temperatures dipped one degree to four degrees celsius below normal in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh Union Territory.

People in the holy city of Amritsar groaned under intense heat wave with the maximum temperature hovering 43.8 degrees celsius, seven degrees above normal.

Elsewhere in Punjab, the temperature stayed below normal by three degrees at Ludhiana and two degrees at Patiala, respectively recording 36.2 degrees and 36.1 degrees celsius. Ludhiana recorded a trace rainfall.

The temperatures also declined in Haryana in the wake of rain.

Hissar, which usually turns out to be the hottest place in the state, registered a drastic fall in the mercury, recording the maximum at 39.8 degrees celsius. The town recorded 3 mm rain.

The maximum settled at 36.2 degrees at Ambala and 35.0 degrees at Karnal. While Ambala recorded trace rainfall, Karnal measured 8 mm downpour.

The temperatures also declined in Himachal Pradesh, staying two degrees to four degrees below normal, following thundershowers last night.

Dharamsala, Bhuntar, Sundernagar, Kalpa and Shimla experienced rainfall. The capital town recorded the maximum temperature at 20.7 degrees celsius, two degrees below normal.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas, swept by duststorm and mild rain, also recorded a sharp fall in the temperature. The city, which reported one mm rainfall, recorded the maximum temperature at 36.2 degrees celsius, one degree below normal.

The Weather Office here predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places in Himachal Pradesh and isolated places in Haryana and Punjab during the next 24 hours. Hailstorm or thundersquall with with speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the region.